<p>I have gone through through the whole process--researching, re-researching, visiting, and stressing--it's all there. And now I have a a tentatively final college list. Here's a bit of context:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.9 UW (No W)
SAT: 2260 superscore (two sittings). CR: 800 M: 740 W: 720
APs: Euro (5) US History (5) English Language (4) English Lit (4)
SAT Subject Tests: Biology (710) Lit (730) US History (780)
ECs: School Newspaper (Editor in Chief), Lit Magazine (Board of Editors), Debate Club (President), Varsity Squash, Varsity Tennis, Volunteer at food kitchen.
Summer work: Junior Analyst at prominent NYC Mutual Fund, previously worked at as a writer for my local paper</p>
<p>My interests are involved mostly in politics and economics, and my major would probably reflect those interests (either IR or Econ). I'm planning on taking up Arabic in college and studying for a semester in the Middle East. </p>
<p>My list:
ED: either Duke or Columbia (visiting both in Sept.)
EA: UVA, UNC-Chapel Hill, U-Mich, University of Chicago
RD: Georgetown, Penn, St. Andrews, Wake Forest, Duke/Columbia. </p>
<p>What do you all think?</p>
<p>Where is your safety school?</p>
<p>Also, why are you playing games with ED? If you aren’t sure (“Duke or Columbia”), don’t apply ED.</p>
<p>I realize you did a lot of research, but can your family afford any of these schools? have you run the net price calculators and gotten from your parents a commitment to lay out so many dollars per year? </p>
<p>@International95 My safety schools are St. Andrews in Scotland, which my college counselor said is a sure-bet, and URichmond, which I forgot to mention. Duke and Columbia are far and away my favorite schools, and given the higher acceptance rate with ED, I figured that I might as well make a decision now (after visiting both again) than in April, when I could find I got into neither. I like them both so much that I would be esctatic to go to either.</p>
<p>@jkeil911 Luckily, finances are not an issue. I’m applying for several merit scholarships, but I am blessed and my parents can afford full tuition. </p>
<p>Unless you are a recruited athlete or a very hooked one, it doesn’t make it any bit easier if you apply ED. You should do some research on this matter (about why higher ED acceptance rates are misleading).</p>
<p>OP, it is conceivable that you would only get into a few of these schools. If you’re happy and ready to attend Georgetown, Wake Forest, or Michigan, this is a good list. I know next to nothing about St. Andrews, so I’ve not included it in my consideration. </p>
<p>This seems like an all reach list to me if you have a rock solid safety you are happy with. There is no way St.Andrews is a sure bet that is crazy. Are you at an elite prep school or somehting?</p>
<p>@International95, ED actually does have an impact on admissions decisions. See this article by a Dartmouth admissions officer:
“It’s much easier to be admitted during Early even though most schools tell you it’s just as competitive, it’s simply not true. That’s standard administrative rhetoric, but it is much more difficult to be admitted during regular. We’ve already admitted 30 to 35 percent of the class Early. When you first start reading apps you might think one is great, but reading the same app later after 600 others then that kid no longer seems as stellar.”</p>
<p><a href=“Secrets of Dartmouth Admissions Office”>Secrets of Dartmouth Admissions Office;
<p>The final piece of advice the admissions officer gives is to apply ED. Colleges want you to think that applying early doesn’t improve your chances to minimize the number of early applicants and increase the number of regular decision applicants to lower their acceptance rate. So OP, applying ED to a school will increase your chances, but it won’t guarantee you admissions by any means. I agree with all of the above posters, though. You need at least one actual safety.</p>
<p>Just a couple of points of clarification: My list is a tad top-heavy, but if you add Richmond into the RD list, it becomes less so. Also, my hope is that I’m admitted to one of my EA schools, at least, which would allow me to chop a couple of schools off of my RD list. For example, if a Michigan acceptance letter came in the mail, there would be no Wake, Richmond, or St. Andrews applications. </p>
<p>@BrownParent I do indeed go to an elite prep school. Based on my school’s Naviance, our admit rate to St. Andrews is >80%, and the average GPA/SAT scores are quite a bit lower than mine. Perhaps we have a special relationship with them–I don’t know, but “safety” is how my CC placed it. I’ve personally visited, and loved it there. The fantastic golf courses there probably influenced my opinion though :)</p>
<p>… You’ve actually put together a very logical list, props to you. Despite what others are going to tell you, the fact that your list is top heavy isn’t bad, because you have all the EA matches there. This is actually pretty similar to what I did when I applied last year, and it worked out pretty well for me. Good luck, OP.</p>
<p>A safety school should not only be one you can 100% get into, but also 100% afford, no problem. I know some parents say they will be able to afford full tuition, but especially if they are first-timers at the college applications, you need a cheap, affordable option as a backup.</p>
<p>Are you instate at any of these schools? It looks like University of Richmond is a private school and from personal experience applying to the Universtiy of St. Andrews, the tuition there isn’t cheap, and often amounts to the same level as some schools in the United States, sometimes more so if you factor in the travel costs. Just be sure you want to do that before you spend all that time on the applications.</p>
<p>I’m sure you can get into at least one of these schools, but having a true safety or two in case there are bumps along the road is important.</p>
<p>I’ve had a number of conversations with my parents about tuition costs. Both my brother and sister–one going to be a college senior and the other graduated–attended/are attending pretty expensive private schools with around 50,000 a year tuitions. Because I am an international student, financial aid is almost a non-consideration. However, I am in the fortunate situation where my parents can absolutely pay for four years at a private university. </p>
<p>On another note, I love all of the EA schools I am applying to (UVA, UNC, Michigan, and UChicago). An acceptance from any of those would be a dream come true. </p>
<p>Thank you all for the advice and guidance. It’s been very helpful! </p>
<p>Well your GC will know better than anyone here, then. As an international, your chances at all the U.S. colleges are lower, though. </p>